In a letter to Mr. William Canby, Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus." Jefferson's description of his compilation was referred to as, "a paradigma of His doctrines, made by cutting the texts out of the book and arranging them on the pages of a blank book, in a certain order of time or subject. A more beautiful or precious morsel of ethics I have never seen." Jefferson had previously told John Adams that he felt as though he was salvaging the True Philosophy of Jesus Christ and the "pure principles which he taught," from the "artificial vestments in which they have been muffled by priests, who have travestied them into various forms as instruments of riches and power for themselves." After having selected from the evangelists "the very words only of Jesus," he believed "there will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."

You should read The Jefferson Bible straight through, as Jefferson intended the text to be read. The purpose of his text is to put forward a moral code to be used for daily living. Jefferson had no intention of presenting a religious dogma. He was more interested in the simple spiritual aspect of Jesus' teachings.

Charles M. Province

United Christ Church Ministry